Gentry hiring good or bad?

[Yuma]

Is the Gentry hiring a good decision for the Suns?

Sorry, tried to post a poll but it didn't work. Now I can't delete thread!

Basically the two and ONLY two choices were:

Good Decision - Brought back uptempo game and used rookies.

Bad Decision - Hired with plenty of time left before playoffs and Suns couldn't mount a charge. (With 2 MVPs on team!)

My vote would be it's a bad decision. Even without Amare, we had plenty of pieces to make a run at the 8 seed, and couldn't even win down the stretch. Often losing to worse ranked teams, no less. We know Gentry can lose games for us, I'd rather take a chance on an unknown commodity for coach at this point.

 

[Hat]

Good: Maintain coach/player chemistry (the Suns really lacked this last year). Good development of rookies, and will continue this. Will keep upbeat tempo the players like.

Bad: Defense. Wierd sub patterns. Not much defense accountability. Hesistant coaching (this can be because he was nervous as being a coach again). Lack of defense (did I say that enough?)

He said in his announcement the other day that he will put an emphasis back on defense this summer. We will see. It really comes down to the players attitudes. We might as well stick with Gentry because I don't trust Kerr's decision making on coaches.

 

[Chaplin]

The problem with Porter is that he stressed defense at the expense of the offense. Gentry won't do that. We do need to get better, but let's face it, this team will never be a defensive juggernaut, but they don't really need to be. They work on their pick-and-roll defending and this team becomes light years better on the defensive end. Talk all you want about Nash's deficiencies and Amare's fear of contact, but if we improve screen-and-roll defense, this team will be a lot better. And that's without sacrificing any of our offensive output.

I think it's possible. Will it happen? Time will tell, but I don't think Gentry deserves the mantra of not being able to coach defense.

 

[elindholm]

The problem with Porter is that he stressed defense at the expense of the offense.

I disagree. I think the problem with Porter was that, for all of his talk of being a defensive coach, he didn't have a clue how to coach it. Just saying "Defense!" over and over isn't coaching. Had the Suns actually shown defensive improvement under Porter, he'd probably still be the coach.

 

[Errntknght]

Yuma,

My vote would be it's a bad decision. Even without Amare, we had plenty of pieces to make a run at the 8 seed, and couldn't even win down the stretch. Often losing to worse ranked teams, no less.

IIRC, the team did well against the lesser teams down the stretch - it was the good teams they couldn't win against... win enough to climb back into the playoffs.

It wasn't the failure to reach the playoffs that bothered me, it was the way Gentry ran the show. In game after game against the better teams - and the middling teams on the road - he kept the bench on a short leash the whole game and in virtually every one the tired starters let the game slip away in the fourth Q. Against the lesser teams he loosed his death grip on the bench and the team merrily romped to wins. That is such gutless coaching it made me ill to watch. Granted, it was a notch above D'Antoni's use of the bench, overall, but when the chips were down he sank to Mike's level.

Along with just about everyone else, I have my doubts about the defensive end of the floor with Alvin at the helm but I'm also concerned about the offensive end. I'm very afraid that Gentry does not grasp the idea that if the offensive is strictly tailored to Nash's unique skills there is absolutely no hope for this team - the team will lose ground so fast when Nash sits that he'll have to play Steve 38 minutes a game to keep in the playoff hunt. Last year he got a boost from Porter's attempt to diversify the offense in that the subs did quite well w.o. Nash. Its possible he understood that but he never gave a shred of credit to Terry so I have my doubts.

In short, I fear a return to pure D'Antoni - minus only the nitwit behavior on the sidelines.

 

[devilalum]

Good if they win.

Bad if they lose.

 

[Mainstreet]

I disagree. I think the problem with Porter was that, for all of his talk of being a defensive coach, he didn't have a clue how to coach it. Just saying "Defense!" over and over isn't coaching. Had the Suns actually shown defensive improvement under Porter, he'd probably still be the coach.

I really agree with both Chaplin and you. Porter was a coach that could not hang his hat on defense or offense. He lost the team at hello.

 

[devilalum]

Good: Maintain coach/player chemistry (the Suns really lacked this last year). Good development of rookies, and will continue this. Will keep upbeat tempo the players like.

Bad: Defense. Wierd sub patterns. Not much defense accountability. Hesistant coaching (this can be because he was nervous as being a coach again). Lack of defense (did I say that enough?)

He said in his announcement the other day that he will put an emphasis back on defense this summer. We will see. It really comes down to the players attitudes. We might as well stick with Gentry because I don't trust Kerr's decision making on coaches.

This team will never play even fair defense with the current roster. I don't care who the coach is.

Gentry will get the most out of what we have.

 

[mojorizen7]

I call it safe, gutless and unimaginative.
Like going to Souper Salad because you want try to eat healthy for a change but end up getting tacos and pizza at the end of the bar.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yuma,
In short, I fear a return to pure D'Antoni - minus only the nitwit behavior on the sidelines.

I think Gentry did a good hand with the players given. The Suns were built for offense yet he managed to work in the younger players when he could and implement the effort to play defense. The rotations on defense improved as the season ended for the Suns. Also I might add, the Suns were not going to hire a better coach for this upcoming season and beyond with pocket change. Now as the Suns add more defensive players, Gentry will sink or swim with his style. However, I think he fits Kerr's goals for the immediate future.

 

[mojorizen7]

I think Gentry did a good hand with the players given. The Suns were built for offense yet he managed to work in the younger players when he could and implement the effort to play defense. The rotations on defense improved as the season ended for the Suns. Also I might add, the Suns were not going to hire a better coach for this upcoming season and beyond with pocket change. Now as the Suns add more defensive players, Gentry will sink or swim with his style. However, I think he fits Kerr's goals for the immediate future.

Well said.

 

[cly2tw]

Yuma,

IIRC, the team did well against the lesser teams down the stretch - it was the good teams they couldn't win against... win enough to climb back into the playoffs.

It wasn't the failure to reach the playoffs that bothered me, it was the way Gentry ran the show. In game after game against the better teams - and the middling teams on the road - he kept the bench on a short leash the whole game and in virtually every one the tired starters let the game slip away in the fourth Q. Against the lesser teams he loosed his death grip on the bench and the team merrily romped to wins. That is such gutless coaching it made me ill to watch. Granted, it was a notch above D'Antoni's use of the bench, overall, but when the chips were down he sank to Mike's level.

Along with just about everyone else, I have my doubts about the defensive end of the floor with Alvin at the helm but I'm also concerned about the offensive end. I'm very afraid that Gentry does not grasp the idea that if the offensive is strictly tailored to Nash's unique skills there is absolutely no hope for this team - the team will lose ground so fast when Nash sits that he'll have to play Steve 38 minutes a game to keep in the playoff hunt. Last year he got a boost from Porter's attempt to diversify the offense in that the subs did quite well w.o. Nash. Its possible he understood that but he never gave a shred of credit to Terry so I have my doubts.

In short, I fear a return to pure D'Antoni - minus only the nitwit behavior on the sidelines.

Nash hater!

I believe he was doing the optimal strategy to get him the Hc job after the season. In tougher games, it's safer for him to play his starters long minutes and, if they lose, could then say "look I put in Nash for 40 min who led the team in scoring and assists; if the 2X MVP couldn't win it for us with such performance, you must be a real hater to suggest that giving bench more time might have changed the outcome!" So, Gentry is free of any responsibility.

 

[Yuma]

I call it safe, gutless and unimaginative.
Like going to Souper Salad because you want try to eat healthy for a change but end up getting tacos and pizza at the end of the bar.

Ha Ha! I really like this Mojo!

My only hope is that it's a two season contract with an option on the third year, so when Gentry flames this season, the Suns are only on the hook for one more season. That makes him able to be fired, imho.

 

[Covert Rain]

The problem with Porter is that he stressed defense at the expense of the offense. Gentry won't do that. We do need to get better, but let's face it, this team will never be a defensive juggernaut, but they don't really need to be. They work on their pick-and-roll defending and this team becomes light years better on the defensive end. Talk all you want about Nash's deficiencies and Amare's fear of contact, but if we improve screen-and-roll defense, this team will be a lot better. And that's without sacrificing any of our offensive output.

I think it's possible. Will it happen? Time will tell, but I don't think Gentry deserves the mantra of not being able to coach defense.

I disagree the improving pick and roll defense will have that much of an impact. Our problems are bigger then that. Before Shaq got here everyone bitched that we had no paint defense. Pick and roll defense was not a problem with the Suns pre-Shaq yet we were still considered a poor defensive team across the NBA with bad paint defense on top of that. Our stigma is we could never get defensive stops when it counted.

The Suns were the 4th best paint defensive team in the NBA this year but are now one of the worst perimeter defending teams. It seems like every time we change parts, we are just end up trading one bad defensive trait for another. This team has never been able to defend both the interior and perimeter. It's always been one or the other. We need more talent on that end if we are ever to improve. Just look at the teams left in the playoffs. That tells you the defensive level we need to be at to win a title.

The #1 culprit defensively on this team is our guard play IMO. We can't stop dribble penetration. Either our bigs are forced to rotate to the paint which either gets them in foul trouble or forces us into scenarios where our guys are running all over the floor on defense trying to rotate to the open shooter. The best pick and roll defense on the planet is not going to change that. There is a reason this team retreated to zone defense so much this year. We protect Nash more then any player on this team. Amare is a close 2nd.

I don't know if Gentry can coach defense. Even if he can, we won't find out until we get the players he needs.

 

[TJ]

How bout this answer:

best hire, given the circumstance

 

[Diamondback Jay]

How bout this answer:

best hire, given the circumstance

Best answer possible.

The guy inherited somewhat of a sinking ship and managed to keep it above water, even though they missed the playoffs.

 

[Yuma]

Best answer possible.

The guy inherited somewhat of a sinking ship and managed to keep it above water, even though they missed the playoffs.

He didn't keep it above water. I say that respectfully. Ever since I could watch TV, above water is Suns making the playoffs. We were right in the hunt when Gentry took over, and faded farther back under Gentry. That's taking on water, to me.

 

[Chaplin]

He didn't keep it above water. I say that respectfully. Ever since I could watch TV, above water is Suns making the playoffs. We were right in the hunt when Gentry took over, and faded farther back under Gentry. That's taking on water, to me.

That is just not true.

 

[mojorizen7]

That is just not true.

Which part?

 

[cly2tw]

Which part?

Wondering the same.

 

[Mainstreet]

He didn't keep it above water. I say that respectfully. Ever since I could watch TV, above water is Suns making the playoffs. We were right in the hunt when Gentry took over, and faded farther back under Gentry. That's taking on water, to me.

I believe Porter's record with the Suns was 28-23 and Gentry's record was 18-13 . Notice each coach was only 5 games over .500. The thing with Gentry, he only had Amare for 1 game and faced a tougher schedule.

 

[Yuma]

I was looking at the games back mark during the season. Not win/loss records. We got left in the dust and fell further behind instead of mounting a charge for the 8th seed. Thing is the Mavs lost a lot in the last couple months and we couldn't even catch them when they were having difficulties. We lost a lot of close games, too. I just am not sold on Gentry and can't imagine why he is getting the praise he is getting. He really didn't do anything for us. Like Mainstreet is pointing out, we fired one coach for only being 5 games above .500, but we extend another coach for essentially doing the same thing? I didn't see the Suns making progress. We were still losing to teams we shouldn't and I didn't see us playing any better against the Lakers, Spurs, etc.

 

[Chaplin]

I was looking at the games back mark during the season. Not win/loss records. We got left in the dust and fell further behind instead of mounting a charge for the 8th seed. Thing is the Mavs lost a lot in the last couple months and we couldn't even catch them when they were having difficulties. We lost a lot of close games, too. I just am not sold on Gentry and can't imagine why he is getting the praise he is getting. He really didn't do anything for us. Like Mainstreet is pointing out, we fired one coach for only being 5 games above .500, but we extend another coach for essentially doing the same thing? I didn't see the Suns making progress. We were still losing to teams we shouldn't and I didn't see us playing any better against the Lakers, Spurs, etc.

Wrong. If anything, we didn't move forward OR backward. To imply that Gentry was no better than Porter is absolute lunacy. To ignore not having Amare AND LB for most of Gentry's time is ridiculous.

 

[mojorizen7]

Wrong. If anything, we didn't move forward OR backward. To imply that Gentry was no better than Porter is absolute lunacy. To ignore not having Amare AND LB for most of Gentry's time is ridiculous.

Absolute lunacy?.....I swear some of the egos on this board are second to none. Whats the use in discussing anything with you bozos that are so locked into absolutes that you come across as condescending A Holes?
I would suggest you pay a visit to some other sports boards on the web that consist of something called...tact, and respect, and objectivity that can open up the possibilities that it's not always about being right...and that playing the role of Mr. Know-it-all-your-opinion-is-ludicrous is just sad really.

Anyway,
Take into account that under Porter the Terrible (whom they hated playing for from day 1, learning a completely new system, implementing Barnes into the starting 5), that the SUNS somehow managed to win games is something quite amazing to me.
As i've said before, IMO Gentry was 2 steps ahead of Porter the moment he held his first practice....by unshackling the offense he had the team in his hip pocket for the rest of the season.
I think that Gentry coached fairly well, but i don't see the gap of coaching ability between the two men as that far apart. Gentry had no Amare? Sure...thats a solid point.....his scoring and athleticism were definately missed.....that also means Gentry didn't have to deal with Amare's whining and crying for the ball either.
I wasn't impressed with Porter all that much(don't get me wrong) but it's a little strange to me that Gentry's getting all this credit for missing the playoffs. Its not like he took over a sub .500 team with no talent.

 

[cly2tw]

Anyway,
Take into account that under Porter the Terrible (whom they hated playing for from day 1, learning a completely new system, implementing Barnes into the starting 5), that the SUNS somehow managed to win games is something quite amazing to me.
As i've said before, IMO Gentry was 2 steps ahead of Porter the moment he held his first practice....by unshackling the offense he had the team in his hip pocket for the rest of the season.
I think that Gentry coached fairly well, but i don't see the gap of coaching ability between the two men as that far apart. Gentry had no Amare? Sure...thats a solid point.....his scoring and athleticism were definately missed.....that also means Gentry didn't have to deal with Amare's whining and crying for the ball either.
I wasn't impressed with Porter all that much(don't get me wrong) but it's a little strange to me that Gentry's getting all this credit for missing the playoffs. Its not like he took over a sub .500 team with no talent.

The true test Gentry failed at was to go back to Porter-DAntoni stranglehold of the bench when it counts, even though it became clear that the huge minutes on the starters particularly on Nash killed our chances in almost every close games. It's safer to let Nash in for over 40 min. since the coach didn't want to hear the criticism that they lost the game because he trusted his bench too much and ignored his starters.

Other than that, LB and Amare improved their offensive decision making throughout the whole season, actually mainly thanks to Porter's philosophy change that doomed him for lack of support of incumbent players. Well, he is not a good coach to manage the psyche of the players anyway. So, Gentry has not proven to be really better other than the managing player feelings. The jury is still out though. He might surprise us as Dragic did later in the season.